# NTSB investigations: Cessna 152: Loss of control in flight

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA023.md): Cessna 152 · St. Augustine, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 23, 2025 · N95005 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to properly set the elevator trim prior to takeoff, which resulted in her inability to effectively control the airplane’s pitch and a collision with trees at the end of the runway during initial climb.
- [NTSB WPR25FA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA233.md): Cessna 152 · Hornell, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Aug 1, 2025 · N6125B · Destroyed
  > On August 1, 2025, about 1859 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6125B was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hornell, New York. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part…
- [NTSB CEN25LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA036.md): Cessna 152 · Bridgeport, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2024 · N49785 · Destroyed
  > The student pilot’s delayed go-around from an unstabilized approach and failure to attain/maintain control during the go-around that resulted in an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR23LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA029.md): Cessna 152 · San Jose, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 13, 2022 · N5171B · Substantial damage
  > The student pilots unstabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA022.md): Cessna 152 · Wadsworth, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 23, 2021 · N94400 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the final approach resulting in a bounced landing.
- [NTSB ERA21FA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA274.md): Cessna 152 · St. Augustine, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 29, 2021 · N25513 · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the landing approach.
- [NTSB GAA19CA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA389.md): Cessna 152 · Paris, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 6, 2019 · N757YK · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during takeoff with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with a hay bale left of the runway, and his improper decision to perform a soft-field takeoff without adequate practice.
- [NTSB CEN18FA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA277.md): Cessna 152 · Fort Rice, ND · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jul 17, 2018 · N24515 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions that were conducive to serious carburetor icing, which resulted in a loss of engine power, an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB WPR18LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA135.md): Cessna 152 · Tamiami, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 4, 2018 · N6198Q · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of control during an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart on the flight without obtaining approval to fly at night in accordance…
- [NTSB WPR18FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA075.md): Cessna 152 · Concord, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 29, 2018 · N93316 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB WPR18FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA035.md): Cessna 152 · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 20, 2017 · N24987 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of situational awareness shortly after takeoff over a sparsely lit area in dark night conditions, which resulted in a rapid descent to ground impact.
- [NTSB GAA17CA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA528.md): Cessna 152 · Broomfield, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 9, 2017 · N89732 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
- [NTSB ERA17FA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA231.md): Cessna 152 · Homestead, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 2, 2017 · N49453 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in night conditions over an area devoid of ground reference lights.
- [NTSB GAA16CA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA437.md): Cessna 152 · Belle Plaine, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 17, 2016 · N631TK · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper pitch technique after rotation during a short field take off, which resulted in the right wing impacting the ground and a nose gear collapse.
- [NTSB ERA16CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA303.md): Cessna 152G · Augusta, ME · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 1, 2016 · N4916B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind conditions during a short-field landing and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial action, which resulted in the wing tip contacting the runway during the go-around.
- [NTSB GAA16CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA336.md): Cessna 152 · Delta, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 25, 2016 · N152L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during the initial climb in tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB WPR16FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA002.md): Cessna 152 · Cedar City, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2015 · N6449M · Destroyed
  > The failure of the pilots to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall from which they did not recover.
- [NTSB ERA15FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA099.md): Cessna 152 · New Smyrna Beach, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 2015 · N757ZM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in night, instrument meteorological conditions, likely due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the outcome was the radar controller's failure to…
- [NTSB CEN14FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA057.md): Cessna 152 · Spring, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 18, 2013 · N555UF · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed following a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB WPR13CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA323.md): Cessna 152 · Kamiah, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 10, 2013 · N46566 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb, which resulted in a collision with a powerline.
- [NTSB CEN13FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA214.md): Cessna 152 · Hawley, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 2013 · N5367B · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to conduct a flight into known instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control.
- [NTSB ERA12CA521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA521.md): Cessna 152 · Deland, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 21, 2012 · N49054 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control on final approach in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate in an environment of thunderstorms and rapidly deteriorating weather.
- [NTSB ERA11FA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA332.md): Cessna 152 · Vero Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 2011 · N48869 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin.
- [NTSB WPR10CA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA390.md): Cessna 152 · Livermore, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 8, 2010 · N6165M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during final approach, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR10FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA325.md): Cessna 152 · Venice, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 2, 2010 · N94838 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with the ground.
- [NTSB WPR09FA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA398.md): Cessna 152 · Hesperia, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2009 · N67361 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Also causal was the failure of the left magneto due to improper assembly of the drive gear during installation on the…
- [NTSB ERA09CA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA306.md): Cessna 152 · Lumberton, NJ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 25, 2009 · N49396 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB ANC09LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA034.md): Cessna 152 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 17, 2009 · N46326 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering at a high density altitude.
- [NTSB DEN08CA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA126.md): Cessna 152 · Mc Alester, OK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2008 · N6293H · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
- [NTSB SEA08CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA107.md): Cessna 152 · Tucson, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 7, 2008 · N5259B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind condition, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain while landing. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition.
- [NTSB DEN08CA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA047.md): Cessna 152 · Loveland, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 2, 2008 · N24965 · Substantial damage
  > the student pilot's premature flare resulting in the loss of aircraft control.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2071835')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '240' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence?model=2071835

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